ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — Derek Tran, an Army veteran and accomplished attorney, won his race for Congressional District 45 Tuesday, defeating far-right incumbent Michelle Steel and flipping the seat.
Equality California released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang celebrating the victory:
“We are excited that Derek Tran has won in CA-45, a closely contested race — leaving Speaker Johnson with a slim majority in the House. We have been consistently impressed with his commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and social justice in California, and we have no doubt he will continue this advocacy in Congress. As an Army veteran and dedicated attorney, Derek has demonstrated strong leadership and integrity. His opponent, Michelle Steel, voted against the Equality Act and sponsored an extreme anti-reproductive freedom bill in 2023, making Derek’s victory all the more vital. We look forward to working with Derek as he stands up against intolerance and fights for the rights of all Californians, ensuring a more inclusive future for our communities.”
“We are excited that Derek Tran has won in CA-45, a closely contested race — leaving Speaker Johnson with a slim majority in the House. We have been consistently impressed with his commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and social justice in California, and we have no doubt he will continue this advocacy in Congress.
As an Army veteran and dedicated attorney, Derek has demonstrated strong leadership and integrity. His opponent, Michelle Steel, voted against the Equality Act and sponsored an extreme anti-reproductive freedom bill in 2023, making Derek’s victory all the more vital. We look forward to working with Derek as he stands up against intolerance and fights for the rights of all Californians, ensuring a more inclusive future for our communities.”
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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org
